The dory has seen duty as a fishing boat, lumberman's batteau, lifeboat, recreational rowing boat, and racing sailboat. The most comprehensive book about dories ever published, this is at once a history of the dory, a practical handbook on dory building, and a compendium of 23 dory designs with full construction details. The author, a longtime contributor to National Fisherman, and the illustrator, Sam Manning, are perhaps the foremost experts on the subject. A steady stream of letters and photographs to the late John Gardner from successful dory builders worldwide has been testimony to the widespread popularity and influence of this book.

How to build simple, well-designed plywood boats without a complicated building jig, featuring complete scaled-down plans for five easily-built boats designed by Phil Bolger. From a small punt to a 31' daysailer with a schooner rig. The step-by-step example being a 12' double-ended sailing skiff.